A Wichita computer programmer has been sentenced to three years federal probation for threatening cyberattacks against two web sites that were critical of local attorney Brad Pistotnik.
37-year-old David Dorsett pleaded guilty to two counts of making extortion threats via the internet. He admitted contacting Pistotnik in September of 2014 and offering reputation management services. Prosecutors said Dorsett met with Pistotnik to talk about postings on the internet that Pistotnik wanted removed, including a Kansas Supreme Court disciplinary opinion and a negative consumer review.
Prosecutors said Dorsett sent a barrage of emails to two web sites, leagle.com and RipoffReport.com, demanding that they remove information critical of Pistotnik. They said Dorsett billed Pistotnik for sending the threats and Pistotnikk paid him by check the next day.
Pistotnik was sentenced last October to pay a $375,000 fine and $55,200 in restitution.
In addition to the probation, Dorsett was given a fine of $2,000.
